Tumbler dryer

ABSTRACT

A tumbler dryer which includes a cylindrical housing having an opening at each end and arranged to be tilted selectively in opposite directions so that either opening may serve as an inlet or outlet for clothes. The dryer also includes a perforated cylindrical rotatable drum having conical ends confronting the ends of the housing. The dryer further includes a hot air supply system that introduces a predetermined percentage of hot air into the top of the drum and the remaining air equally into the conical ends of the drum; the air being extracted from the bottom side of the drum.

United States Patent Inventor Benjamin H. Freze Stanton, Calif. [21]Appl. No. 39,976 [22] Filed May 25, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971[73] Assignee Challenge-Cook Br0s., incorporated [54] TUMBLER DRYER 14Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 34/133 [51] Int. Cl F26b 11/02 [50] Field ofSearch"34/133,139

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,986 12/1962 Grantham34/133 X 3,121,000 2/1964 Hubbard 3,419,969 1/1969 Freze ABSTRACT: Atumbler dryer which includes a cylindrical housing having an opening ateach end and arranged to be tilted selectively in opposite directions sothat either opening may serve as an inlet or outlet for clothes. Thedryer also includes a perforated cylindrical rotatable drum havingconical ends confronting the ends of the housing. The dryer furtherincludes a hot air supply system that introduces a predeterminedpercentage of hot air into the top of the drum and the remaining airequally into the conical ends of the drum; the air being extracted fromthe bottom side ofthe drum.

PATENTEU M1831 I971 SHEET u or 7 Fla INVHNTUR.

TUMIBLER DRYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is related tomy previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,969 which discloses a tumbler dryer inwhich an essen tially cylindrical housing receives an essentiallycylindrical drum or tumbler for rotation about an axis at right anglesto the axis of the housing. This arrangement permits ready tilting ofthe tumbler drum by rotating the housing about its axis and also permitsthe doors of the housing to pivot about the axis of the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toa tumblerdryer which is particularly adapted, but not limited, to tumbler dryersof large capacity, and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a tumbler dryer wherein the housing and the rotatabletumbler drum are essentially coaxial; the housing is provided withopenings at each axial end and is tiltable about either of two axesdisposed adjacent its ends so that clothes may be received or dischargedfrom either end.

Second, to provide a tumbler dryer wherein the ends of the tumbler drumextend to the outlet openings so that the entire peripheral area betweenthe openings rotates to ensure that the entire contents are tumbled.

Third, to provide a tumbler dryer, as indicated in the precedingobjects, wherein the ends of the tumbler drum are conical and perforatedand hot air supply ducts within the housing extend to the ends of thehousing above the conical ends of the tumbler drum for directintroduction of hot air therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the tumbler dryer,shown in its operating position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, taken from the side opposite from FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view, corresponding to FIG. 1;. but showingthe dryer in one of its tilted positions for the pur-- pose of receivinga charge of material to be dried.

FIG. 4. is a fragmentary side view, corresponding to FIG. 3. showing thedryer in one of its tilted positions for the purpose of discharging itscontents.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tumbler drum, indicating the supporting andguide wheels therefore, the housing and base of the tumbler dryer shownby broken lines.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle 6of FIG. 5, showing particularly that portion of the tumbler drum throughwhich hot air is introduced and showing fragmentarily a tumbler rib.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the tumbler dryer, takenfrom 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through8-8 of FIG. 7, showing one of the door latching mechanisms.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken through 9-9 of FIG. 5, showing thetumbler drum in end elevation and the surrounding housing and baseportion of the dryer partially in section and partially in elevation.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle10 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, with the basestructure shown fragmentarily, taken through ll-of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle12 ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken through 14-14ofFIG. ll.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken through15-15 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary partialplan, partial sectional view, takenthrough 16-16 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken from 17-17 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 19- 19 of FIG.18.

The tumbler dryer includes a fixed base frame structure II, which isgenerally rectangular in plan, and includes an extension 2 at one side.Above the extension the base frame structure is provided with a pair ofpivot brackets 3. At the opposite side of the frame structure 1, thereis provided a second pair of pivot brackets 4. I

The base frame structure 1 supports a tilting base frame 5, which isessentially rectangular in plan. The tilting base frame is provided witha pair of pivot bars 6 which mate with the pivot brackets 3 and a pairof pivot bars 7 which mate with the pivot brackets 4. The mating pivotbrackets and pivot bars form separable hinges so that either end of thebase frame may be raised from one set of brackets and pivot bars whilethe tiltable base frame is pivoting about the axis defined by the otherset of pivot brackets and pivot bars. With this arrangement the baseframe 5 may be tilted in either direction, as 'illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4.

Mounted in the base frame adjacent the side having the extension 2 is apair of lifting units 8, which serve to tilt the frame 5 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4. Adjacent the opposite side of the fixed baseframe structure 1 is a lifting unit 9 which functions to tiltthe baseframe 5 in the manner illus' trated in FIG. 2.

Supported on the tilting base frame 5 is a housing 10 of generallycylindrical form, disposed with its axis transverse to the axes definedby the pivot brackets and pivot bars. The housing 10 includes end wallsI1, having central openings 12 which are circular except for a straightor chord portion at their lower sides.

Mounted within the housing is a tumbling drum 13, including acylindrical main portion formed by a plurality of perforated bands14,'separated by reinforcing rings 15. At the axial extremities ofthecylindrical portion, the drum is pro vided with a pair of circulardrive and supporting tracks 16. Beyond the tracks 16, the tumbling drumconverges forming conical end bands 17, terminating in end rings 18.

The tumbling drum is supported by two pair of drive wheels 19, each pairmounted on a shaft 20. The drive wheels extend through slots provided inthe housing 10. The shafts 20 are located externally of the housing andare journaled in bearings 21 supported from the tilting base frame 5.The shafts 20 are connected by sprocket and chain drives 22, to a commongear reduction unit 23, which is joined by a belt drive 24 to a motor25.

The axiallyouter sides of the tracks 16 are engaged by end thrust wheels26 supported from reinforcing members 27, forming a part of the housingstructure.

The upper portion of the housing structure 10 is partially encased byand forms the inner wall of a semicircular hot air duct 28. At one sideof the housing structure the hot air duct extends tangentially downwardand forms an entrance portion 29, the lower end of which confronts a hotair supply means 30, which may include the burner or other heating unit,not shown, and which is supplied with ambient air from an inlet duct 31.The hot air supply means is fixed in the base frame structure 1. Whenthe tumbler dryer is in its operating position, such as shown in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, the entrance portion 29 is spaced from the hot air supplymeans forming an auxiliary air inlet 32.

The housing structure 10 is provided at its upper side with alongitudinal slot 33 for the purpose of supplying a predeterminedportion of the hot air passing in the duct 23 into the upper side of thetumbling drum 13, as shown best in FIGS. 11 and 16.

The arcuate upper portion of the hot air duct extends axially withrespect to the housing and forms semicircular radially inwardly directedinlet slots 34 which communicate with dis-' tributor chambers 35 locatedbetween the housing and the conical end bands 17 of the tumbler drum 13,as shown par-- ticularly in FIGS. 9, 15, 16 and 18. The perforatedconical end bands 17 form moving radially inner walls of the distributorchambers and the circumferential extremities of the chambers are definedby end partitions 36 supported from the housing 10 and extendinginwardly into confronting relation with the tumbling drum. Two sets ofpartitions are provided and extend from end to end of the housing, theirradially inner margins conforming to the tumbling drums. The portions ofthe partitions which form'the ends of the distributor chambers areprovided with seal strips 37 which ride on the conical surfaces of theend bands 17, as indicated particularly in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The lower portions of the end walls 11 bordering the openings 12 areprovided with end seals 37a extending between the partitions 36, asshown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The seals bear against the end rings 18 of thetumbler drum 13. Also extending between the end partitions 36 around thelower portion of the housing and tumbler drum is a pair of semicircularseals 38 secured to the housing and bearing yieldably against the axialextremities of the supporting tracks 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and13.

Mounted within the fixed base frame structure 1 is a laterally directeddischarge duct 39, having an upwardly directed intake end 40 confrontingthe lower side of the housing 10 at its central portion. Formed at thelower side of the housing 10 is'a discharge chamber 41 of rectangularconfiguration, the opposite walls of which converge downwardly andregister with the intake end 40, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 14. The uppermargins of the circumferential sides of the discharge chamber 41 areprovided with barrier strips 42 of flexible material of which yieldablyengage the and conform to the tumbler drum 13. These barriers extend tothe seals 38 and are indicated particularly in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

The tumbling drum 13 is provided with a set of longitudinal ly extendingmajor internal ribs 43, interspersed by minor internalribs 44 to producea tumbling action. At their extremities, within the regions whichreceive the main portion of the hot air, the major internal ribs 43 areprovided with radially inwardly directed extensions 45 which cooperatewith the conical end bands 17 to work the contents of the tumbler drumaxially inward, and also to keep the perforations in the bands free sothat incoming air from the distributor chambers 35 will not be impeded.

The openings 12 are closed by doors 46. Each door includes complementarydoor sections 47, 48 and 49 joined by hinges 50 which incorporate seals51, Also, each door is provided with a peripheral seal 52.

The upper door section is provided with an upward extension 53, theupper extremity of which receives a pivot bar 54 supported from thecorresponding end wall 11 by bearing brackets 55. The pivot bar extendslaterally and its extreme end is supported by a third bearing bracket56. Connected to the extreme end of the pivot bar is a link 57 which isjoined to a lever 58 supported intermediate its ends by a second link59. The second link is supported on a pivot bracket 60 mounted on a bar61 extending longitudinally across and supported by the outer wall ofthe hot air duct 18, as indicated particularly in FIG. 1 through 4 and7.

The mounting bar 61 supports a pair of thrust units 62, one for eachdoor. Each thrust unit includes a cylinder 63 supported on the mountingbar by means of a pivot bracket 64 and an extension shaft 65 attached toa corresponding lever 58.

The dimensions of the links 57 and 59 and the lever 58 as well as theupward extension 53 are such that on pivoting, the upper section 47 ofthe door between its closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and itsraised position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is pivoted 180 and its hingedconnection with the central section 48 is raised sufficiently that boththe central section and bottom section depending therefrom clear theupper margin of the door opening.

The lower corners of the central door section 48 of each door areprovided with essentially radially outwardly extending keeper plates 66.Each keeper plate is engaged by a latch element 67 pivotally connectedto a mounting bar 68 secured to the corresponding end wall 11. Eachlatch element is connected by an adjustable link 69 to a lever 70, whichin turn is connected to an operating unit 71 which includes a cylinder72 secured to the backside of the corresponding end wall 11 radiallyoutward from the housing 10 and a shaft 73, the shaft being attached tothe lever 70.

Operation of the tumbler dryer is as follows:

During the drying operation, the housing 10 and the tumbling drum 13 aredisposed in a horizontal position, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, andthe doors are secured in their closed position. Hot air is generated inthe supply chamber 30 by a suitable burner or heater unit, now shown.The air passes upwardly therefrom into the tangential portion 29 of thehot air duct 28. Auxiliary air enters through the inlet 32 and isentrained in the air passing upwardly from the supply chamber 30. Thehot air is carried over the top portion of the housing. A predeterminedportion of the air is delivered into the tumbling drum 18 through thelongitudinal slot 33 and the remaining hot air is delivered through theinlet slots 35 and distributor chambers 35 into the perforated conicalend bands 17 of the tumbler drum. The air discharges from the lowerportion of the tumbler drum between the barrier strips 42 and passesthrough the discharge chamber 41 into the discharge duct 39.

During rotation of the tumbling drum, the clothes or other contents ofthe tumbler dryer tend to be worked from the axial ends towards thecentral portion of the drum. Also, some counter-migration of thearticles being dried occurs so that each article is completely exposedto the circulating hot air. More particularly, the extended end portionsof the major tumbling ribs 43 prevent the articles from restricting theflow of air from the distributor chambers 35 into the tumbling dryereven though the dryer is loaded excessively.

By reason of the fact that either end of the tumbler dryer may beraised, the tumbler dryer may be adapted to any desired loading andunloading procedure; for example, the dryer may be loaded and unloadedfrom one end by tilting the dryer between the position shown in FIGS.3-and 4 in which case only one door is used. Or, the dryer may be tiltedto either position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which case, the lower mostdoor is first opened to permit discharge of the contents; then, thisdoor is closedand the door at the raised side of the tumbler is openedto receive a new charge of clothing or the like.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstruction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

a. a housing including parallel ends having coaxial inlet-outletopenings and doors therefor;

b. a perforated cylindrical tumbler drum disposed for rotation incoaxial relation to the openings, the tumbler drum including endportions terminating at the peripheries of the openings;

c. a hot air inlet chamber above and immediately inward of each opening,each inlet chamber having a movable wall formed by the perforated endportion of the tumbler;

d. a hot air supply duct communicating with the chambers for theintroduction of hot air into the extreme ends of the tumbler drum;

e. and an air outlet chamber under the central portion of the tumblerdrum having a moving wall formed by the perforated central portion ofthe tumbler drum.

2. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said inlet duct includes an air inlet slit disposed along the topside of the tumbler drum forthe introduction of a predetermined portionof air distributed along the top side thereof.

3. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum are conical andconverge axially outward therefrom.

4. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

a. a set of axial extending tumbler ribs within the tumbler drumextending to the margins of the inlet-outlet openings selected ribs inthe region of hot air inlet having radially inward extensions tending todeflect the contents of the tumbler drum onto the conical portionsthereof for further deflection toward the center of the tumbler drum.

5. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the doorsclosing the inlet-outlet openings comprises:

a. an upper door section;

b. at least one complementary door section hinged to the lower margin ofthe upper door section;

c. means for rotating the upper door section between a lower positionwherein the door sections occupy a closed position and an upperpositionwherein the door sections are disposed above the door opening; 7

d. and means for securing the door sections in their closed position.

6. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

a. a fixed base structure;

b. a first set of separable pivot means located under one end of thehousing;

c. a second set of separable pivot means located under the other end ofthe housing;

d. said separable pivot means including elements carried by the basestructure and the housing;

e. and a thrust means for tilting the housing in opposite directions.

7. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

a. a base frame;

b. a generally cylindrical housing;

c. cooperating separable pivot elements defining transverse axes locatednear the axial ends of the housing and corresponding portions of thebase frame;

. thrust units carried by the base frame and connected to the housing toeffect selective pivotal movement of the housing about either of thetransverse axes;

. a cylindrical tumbler drum perforated end-to-end and disposed insubstantially coaxial relation with the housmeans engaging the peripheryof the tumbler drum to effect rotation of the drum within the housing;

. inletoutlet doors at each axial end of the housing confronting theends of the tumbler drum;

. hot air inlet chambers at the upper portion of the housing andadjacent the axial extremities thereof communicating directly with theperforated end portions of the tumbler drum;

. means for supplying hot air to the chambers for introduction into thetumbler drum at each end thereof;

j. and hot air outlets centrally located at the under side of thehousing and confronting the central perforated portion of the tumblerdrum.

8. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum which receive the hotair are conical and diverge toward the central region of the drum.

9. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 8, which further comprises:

a. a set of axially disposed tumbler ribs within the tumbler drumextending into the conical portions to aid the conical portions toeffect movement of the contents of the dryer toward the central regiono'fthe tumbler drum away from the inlet-outlet doors. 10. A tumblerdryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the doors comprises:

c. and means for latching the door sections in their closed positions.

11. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a. the hot air supply means includes an upwardly directed hot air supplyfixed in the base frame below one side of the housing;

b. and a hot air duct carried by the housing extending upwardly from thehot air supply and partially wrapping the housing, the entrance end ofthe hot air duct being spaced from the supply to permit entrainment ofsurrounding air, the duct being tiltable with the housing away from thehot air supply.

12. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

a. a tumbler drum including a perforated cylindrical main portion, andat least one perforated end portion of reduced diameter to receive airradially therein for axial flow into the drum;

7 b. a housing enclosing the drum including the ends thereof and havingmeans for rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis;

c. means defining an air inlet duct for delivery of air radially intothe perforated end portion of the drum;

d. means'defining an air outlet for extracting air from the main portionof the drum;

e. and an access door mounted in an end of the housing confronting areduced end portion ofthe drum.

13. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, which further comprises:

a. means for tilting the housing and drum about at least one transverseaxis for loading and unloading the drum.

14. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

a. perforated reduced end portions are provided at both ends of thedrum;

b. and air inlet ducts extend to both end portions, whereby air flowsfrom both end portions axially toward the center of the drum.

1. A tumbler dryer, comprising: a. a housing incluDing parallel endshaving coaxial inlet-outlet openings and doors therefor; b. a perforatedcylindrical tumbler drum disposed for rotation in coaxial relation tothe openings, the tumbler drum including end portions terminating at theperipheries of the openings; c. a hot air inlet chamber above andimmediately inward of each opening, each inlet chamber having a movablewall formed by the perforated end portion of the tumbler; d. a hot airsupply duct communicating with the chambers for the introduction of hotair into the extreme ends of the tumbler drum; e. and an air outletchamber under the central portion of the tumbler drum having a movingwall formed by the perforated central portion of the tumbler drum.
 2. Atumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said inlet ductincludes an air inlet slit disposed along the top side of the tumblerdrum for the introduction of a predetermined portion of air distributedalong the top side thereof.
 3. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1,wherein: a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum are conicaland converge axially outward therefrom.
 4. A tumbler dryer, as definedin claim 1, which further comprises: a. a set of axial extending tumblerribs within the tumbler drum extending to the margins of theinlet-outlet openings selected ribs in the region of hot air inlethaving radially inward extensions tending to deflect the contents of thetumbler drum onto the conical portions thereof for further deflectiontoward the center of the tumbler drum.
 5. A tumbler dryer, as defined inclaim 1, wherein each of the doors closing the inlet-outlet openingscomprises: a. an upper door section; b. at least one complementary doorsection hinged to the lower margin of the upper door section; c. meansfor rotating the upper door section between a lower position wherein thedoor sections occupy a closed position and an upper position wherein thedoor sections are disposed above the door opening; d. and means forsecuring the door sections in their closed position.
 6. A tumbler dryer,as defined in claim 1, which further comprises: a. a fixed basestructure; b. a first set of separable pivot means located under one endof the housing; c. a second set of separable pivot means located underthe other end of the housing; d. said separable pivot means includingelements carried by the base structure and the housing; e. and a thrustmeans for tilting the housing in opposite directions.
 7. A tumblerdryer, comprising: a. a base frame; b. a generally cylindrical housing;c. cooperating separable pivot elements defining transverse axes locatednear the axial ends of the housing and corresponding portions of thebase frame; d. thrust units carried by the base frame and connected tothe housing to effect selective pivotal movement of the housing abouteither of the transverse axes; e. a cylindrical tumbler drum perforatedend-to-end and disposed in substantially coaxial relation with thehousing; f. means engaging the periphery of the tumbler drum to effectrotation of the drum within the housing; g. inlet-outlet doors at eachaxial end of the housing confronting the ends of the tumbler drum; h.hot air inlet chambers at the upper portion of the housing and adjacentthe axial extremities thereof communicating directly with the perforatedend portions of the tumbler drum; i. means for supplying hot air to thechambers for introduction into the tumbler drum at each end thereof; j.and hot air outlets centrally located at the under side of the housingand confronting the central perforated portion of the tumbler drum.
 8. Atumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein: a. the perforated endportions of the tumbler drum which receive the hot air are conical anddiverge toward the central region of the drum.
 9. A tumbler dryer, asdefined in claim 8, which further comprises: a. a set oF axiallydisposed tumbler ribs within the tumbler drum extending into the conicalportions to aid the conical portions to effect movement of the contentsof the dryer toward the central region of the tumbler drum away from theinlet-outlet doors.
 10. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, whereineach of the doors comprises: a. three complementary door sectionsconnected by horizontally disposed hinges; b. means pivotally connectingthe uppermost door section for movement between a downwardly directedclosed position and an upwardly directed open position, the remainingdoor sections depending from the uppermost door section and movablethereby between a lower closed position and a raised open position; c.and means for latching the door sections in their closed positions. 11.A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein: a. the hot air supplymeans includes an upwardly directed hot air supply fixed in the baseframe below one side of the housing; b. and a hot air duct carried bythe housing extending upwardly from the hot air supply and partiallywrapping the housing, the entrance end of the hot air duct being spacedfrom the supply to permit entrainment of surrounding air, the duct beingtiltable with the housing away from the hot air supply.
 12. A tumblerdryer, comprising: a. a tumbler drum including a perforated cylindricalmain portion, and at least one perforated end portion of reduceddiameter to receive air radially therein for axial flow into the drum;b. a housing enclosing the drum including the ends thereof and havingmeans for rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis; c. meansdefining an air inlet duct for delivery of air radially into theperforated end portion of the drum; d. means defining an air outlet forextracting air from the main portion of the drum; e. and an access doormounted in an end of the housing confronting a reduced end portion ofthe drum.
 13. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, which furthercomprises: a. means for tilting the housing and drum about at least onetransverse axis for loading and unloading the drum.
 14. A tumbler dryer,as defined in claim 12, wherein: a. perforated reduced end portions areprovided at both ends of the drum; b. and air inlet ducts extend to bothend portions, whereby air flows from both end portions axially towardthe center of the drum.